Witness Assistance

Mississauga (11 February, 2010) --- The Special Investigations Unit (SIU) has assigned five investigators, four forensic investigators and a collision reconstructionist to probe a vehicle fatality near Palmerston that occurred early this morning.

The SIU was notified by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) that at approximately 1:30 a.m. on February 11, 2010, an officer began to follow a vehicle southbound on Highway 23, north of Palmerston, for investigation of a Highway Traffic Act infraction. A short time later, that vehicle collided with an oncoming northbound vehicle with two occupants. The 25-year-old male driver of the southbound vehicle is in hospital with minor injuries. A 22-year-old female in the northbound vehicle is deceased; an 18-year-old male suffered serious injuries and is in hospital.

The SIU has designated one subject officer and two witness officers from the OPP.

The SIU is appealing for anyone who witnessed this incident to contact the Unit at 416-622-2290 or 1-800-787-8529 x. 2290.

The SIU is an arm’s length agency that investigates reports involving police where there has been death, serious injury or allegations of sexual assault. Under the Police Services Act, the Director of the SIU must

consider whether an officer has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation

depending on the evidence, lay a criminal charge against the officer if appropriate or close the file without any charges being laid